KEY TAKEAWAYS: M.S. Rau will open its first Aspen gallery on March 26. The 2,200-square-foot space marks the company’s first permanent second location since 1912. Gallery will feature works by Monet, Renoir and Picasso alongside rare artifacts. Opening celebration runs March 26–28 with coc ktails and king cake.   Luxury art, antiques and jewelry dealer M.S. Rau will open its first year-round gallery outside Louisiana later this month in Aspen, marking the company’s first permanent second location since it was founded in 1912. The new 2,200-square-foot gallery will open March 26 at 307 S. Galena St. in the Aspen Block Building, located in the city’s commercial core shopping district. The expansion places the New Orleans-based dealer in one of the country’s most prominent art and luxury retail markets. To mark the opening, the company plans a three-day celebration from March 26 through March 28 featuring complimentary cocktails and king cake — a nod to its Louisiana roots — while visitors tour the gallery’s collection. Screenshot The Aspen location will feature museum-quality works of art, antiques and jewelry similar to those showcased at the company’s flagship gallery in New Orleans. Items on display will include masterworks by artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Pablo Picasso, along with rare historical artifacts. Among the highlights are a silver teapot attributed to Paul Revere, rare Golconda diamonds and ancient meteorites. The gallery will also display what the company says are the only documented French Crown Jewels located outside a museum. Andrew Fields, president of M.S. Rau and an Aspen resident, said the company had been considering a permanent presence in the mountain resort community because of its strong market for high-end art and collectibles. “This town has a thriving art scene and attracts discerning collectors from around the globe throughout the year, and the elegant shopping district reflects the same one-of-a-kind character found in our collection,” Fields said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.” The new gallery occupies both the street and lower levels of the historic Victorian brick building and sits near luxury retailers including Prada and Rag Bone. Founded in 1912, M.S. Rau is a family-owned gallery led by third-generation owner Bill Rau. The company operates globally, sourcing rare works for collectors and institutions. Its flagship space in the French Quarter spans about 40,000 square feet and regularly hosts museum-quality exhibitions and participates in international art and antiques fairs. The Aspen gallery represents the latest step in the company’s effort to reach collectors in major luxury markets while maintaining its long-standing base in New Orleans. Click here for more information on the event. ...read more read less